At PMA 07, SanDisk Corp. announced a 4-Gigabyte (GB) addition to its SanDisk Extreme® III pro line of SDHC (SD High Capacity) Class 6 memory cards. The 4GB SanDisk Extreme III card can store more than 2,000 high-resolution pictures or up to 8 hours of MPEG 4 video2.¹ Devices must be SDHC compatible in order to work with SDHC memory cards.

"The SanDisk Extreme III line has become a best-of-class standard for professional photographers who demand speed, durability and reliability," said Tanya Chuang, SanDisk's director of retail product marketing, global imaging market. Now we're raising the bar again with these new cards. And by including an SDHC-compatible reader with each SDHC card, we're enabling users to easily transfer images from their cameras to their computers."

Major camera manufacturers, including Canon, Nikon, Panasonic and Leica, have already shipped or announced a variety of pro-level digital cameras that use the SDHC format (designed to allow for capacities greater than 2GB). Consumer-oriented digital still and video cameras that use standard SDHC cards have been available at retailers since last year.

All SanDisk Extreme III cards offer ESP Technology to streamline data transfer, RescuePRO® software to recover accidentally deleted files and images, a dedicated technical support telephone hotline and a limited lifetime warranty.

Price and Availability

The SanDisk Extreme III SDHC 4GB Card will be available in April 2007. The SanDisk Extreme III SDHC Bundle (4GB Card + MicroMate USB 2.0 Reader) will be available in April 2007 for a price of $139.99 (US MSRP).

SanDisk 4GB SD SDHC Extreme III Memory Card

US $39.99 End Date: Saturday Jul-31-2010 18:16:05 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $39.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

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Sigma has announced a new version of their popular 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC Zoom Lens. The new version is equipped with Sigma’s own unique technology OS (Optical Stabilizer) technology. The OS function uses two sensors inside the lens to detect vertical and horizontal movement of the camera and works by moving an optical image stabilizing lens group, to effectively compensate for camera shake. It also automatically detects movement of the camera and compensates for camera shake when shooting moving subjects – essential for sports photography.

Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass and three aspherical lenses provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations. The super multi-layer lens coating reduces flare and ghosting. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range.

The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 17.7 inches at all focal lengths, and has maximum magnification of 1:3.9, making it ideal for close-up photography. An inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making the lens particularly suitable for using circular polarizing filters. A petal-type lens hood is supplied.

Features

• Unique OS (Optical Stabilizer) technology
• SLD glass and three aspherical lenses
• Super multi-layer coating
• Aperture: 7 blades
• Minimum focusing distance of 45cm/17.7 in.
• Maximum magnification of 1:3.9
• Dimensions: 3.1 in. × 3.9 in.
• Weight: 610g / 21.7 oz.
• Mounts: Sigma AF, Canon AF, Nikon AF-D

Price and Availability

The new Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS Zoom Lens will have an estimated MSRP of $865 and be available in the April/May timeframe.

There is no question that Lowepro makes some of the best photography backpacks on the market today. In line with Lowepro’s tradition of making high-quality, all-weather backpacks and protective cases – they have launched the Vertex-series designed for the adventure bound photographer or sports photojournalist. The Vertex backpacks use a rugged exterior design with water resistant zippers and a seam-sealed Lowepro All Weather Cover that protects gear even in the most harsh outdoor environments.

Designed to deliver maximum comfort with minimal bulk, the Vertex series is capable of carrying 1-2 pro digital SLR units, a large 35mm or medium format system, a number of lenses, a tripod or monopod, a flash and digital accessories. Exterior features include the All Weather Cover, Lowepro's adjustable Glide-Lockâ„¢ accessory attachment system for securing tripods and other outdoor accessories, two outer pockets for memory cards and filters, plus a mid-pocket which is large enough for most notebook computer models. On the inside, you will find adjustable padded dividers with side velex-lining and additional accessory pockets.

Product Details¹

Vertex 100 AW

• Harnessed with a 6-point adjustable harness system
• Capable of carrying 1-2 digital SLR units and 3-5 lenses (up to a 200 mm f/2.8)
• Contains one Glide-Lock accessory attachment point
• Carries a mid-pocket large enough for a notebook computer of up to 14 inches

Vertex 200 AW

• Harnessed with a 8-point adjustable harness system
• Capable of carrying 1-2 digital SLR units and 4-6 lenses (up to a 300 mm f/2.8)
• Contains three (3) Glide-Lock accessory attachment points
• Carries a mid-pocket large enough for a notebook computer of up to 15.4 inches

Vertex 300 AW

• Harnessed with a 8-point adjustable harness system
• Capable of carrying 1-2 digital SLR units and 6-8 lenses (up to a 400 mm f/2.8)
• Contains three (3) Glide-Lock accessory attachment points
• Carries a mid-pocket large enough for a notebook computer of up to 17 inches

Measurements

Vertex 100 AW:

• External: 11.8 x 9.8 x 16.5 in.
• Internal: 11 x 5.9 x 15.4 in.
• Notebook Compartment: 11H x 2D x 13.8W in.

Vertex 200 AW:

• External: 12.6 x 10.2 x 18.5 in.
• Internal: 11.8 x 6.5 x 17.3 in.
• Notebook Compartment: 11.8W x 2D x 16.5H in.

Vertex 300 AW:

• External: 13 x 10.2 x 21.7 in.
• Internal: 12.2 x 6.5 x 20.5 in.
• Notebook Compartment: 11.8W x 2D x 19.7H in.

Price and Availability²³

The Lowepro Vertex backpacks will be available starting in March for a retail price of $189.99, $249.99 and $289.99 respectively.

On-Sale (update 6/10/07)

The Lowepro Vertex backpacks are on sale (23-30% off) at Amazon. See the links below.

At PMA 2007, Leica USA announced its newest camera – the C-LUX 2. In size and features, the C-Lux 2 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30 are nearly the same. The LEICA C-LUX 2, however, has that unmistakable Leica look and feel – and is $150 more expensive. To justify its higher price, Leica bundled a 64MB SD card as well as a copy of Adobe Photoshop Elements.

Main Features

• 7.2MP 1/1.65″ Type CCD
• DC VARIO ELMARIT 4x optical zoom f/2.8 (W) lens
• 28 – 112mm (35 mm equiv)
• MEGA OIS image stabilization
• Large 2.5" TFT LCD
• Live Histogram
• 848 x 480, 30fps video capability
• PictBridge compatible
• Lithium ion battery (Leica BP-DC6)
• Battery Capacity: approx. 300 frame (CIPA Standard)
• Weight 4.6 oz; metal body 3.7 x 2 x 0.9 in

Pricing and Availability

The Leica C-LUX 2 will be available in May (in black or silver) at a price of $499.99 (US MSRP). Coming also is the ‘Digital Adapter 2′ (P/N 42-303) which will enable shooting through a spotting scope.

Leica C-LUX 3 Accessory Kit (also fits C-LUX 2) NEW

US $14.99 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 12:49:29 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $14.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

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In conjunction with PMA07, Panasonic has announced a new, ruggedized SD Memory Card Camcorder. The SDR-S10 features water-resistant and dust-proof construction without any moving parts in its image capturing and storage process. The lightweight, compact SDR-S10 is equipped with a 10x optical zoom, quick-start technology, and a 2.7″ wide LCD.

“The SDR-S10 is the ultimate computer and travel accessory," said Rudy Vitti, Panasonic camcorder National Marketing Manager. “This rugged, compact camcorder packs easily so you'll never miss an opportunity to record and share memories of your recreational activities, from snowboarding to boating."

The new SDR-S10 breaks the boundaries of conventional video cameras by letting users shoot with the same casual ease they enjoy with digital still cameras. The SDR-S10 is also exceptionally compact and lightweight, so users can carry it with them almost anytime. It will ship with a 2GB SD Card capable of holding up to 100 minutes of video (LP mode) or 50 minutes in MPEG-2 format (SP mode).

Features

• Impact-resistance to withstand the impact of being dropped from up to 4 feet¹
• Water-resistant construction²
• Attractive design (shoot with a pistol-grip style)
• Extended recording capability using SD/SDHC Memory Cards

¹MIL-STD-810F METHOD 516.5 SHOCK. This product was dropped on top of 2" thick plywood. This does not guarantee the unit will not be damaged or malfunction.
² IEC60529/EN60529 IPX4 Splash-proof type. This does not guarantee the unit is water resistant in all situations.

Price and Availability

The Panasonic SDR-S10 Camcorder will be available in April for a price of $399.95 (US MSRP).

NEW PANASONIC AV CABLE SDRH60 SDR-H60 SDRS10 SDR-S10

US $19.95 End Date: Tuesday Aug-03-2010 5:44:27 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $19.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

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In conjunction with PMA07, Eastman Kodak Company has announced the KODAK EASYSHARE Z712 IS and Z885 Zoom Digital Cameras. Both cameras feature high ISO and image stabilization facilitating the taking of great action photos under any lighting conditions.

The KODAK EASYSHARE Z712 IS Zoom Digital Camera combines a 12x optical zoom lens (36-432 mm equivalent SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON) with optical image stabilization, delivering superior performance to photographers. The 7.1MP camera boasts best-in-class click-to-capture performance (0.26 sec.) and superb picture quality at an affordable price.

The KODAK EASYSHARE Z885 Zoom Digital Camera has a 5x optical zoom lens and 8.1MP resolution. When combined with high ISO (up to 8000), it tackles low-light environments and action situations with ease. The fast AF 5X optical zoom lens (36-180 mm equivalent) combined with 10 automatic smart scene modes makes it easy to get great shots every time.

Both cameras have 32MB of onboard memory + SD/MMC card expansion slot. According to Kodak published specifications, only the EASYSHARE Z885 has SDHC support.

Price and Availability

The KODAK EASYSHARE Z712 IS Zoom Digital Camera will be available in April for a price of US $299.95 (MSRP).

The KODAK EASYSHARE Z885 IS Zoom Digital Camera will be available in May for a price of US $199.95 (MSRP).

KODAK EASYSHARE Z712 IS 7.1 MP DIGITAL CAMERA Z 712 IS

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In conjunction with PMA07, Lensbabies, LLC has introduced a new medium format version of its 3rd generation selective focus lens, Lensbaby 3G. The medium format version expands the Lensbaby product family’s capabilities for the first time into the medium format realm of photography.

The Medium Format Lensbaby 3G is now available for Mamiya 645 and Pentax 67 camera bodies. The Lensbaby 3G for Mamiya 645 features an 80mm fixed focal length and possible aperture settings ranging from f/3.4 to f/39. The Lensbaby 3G for Pentax 67 cameras has a 100 mm fixed focal length and has possible aperture settings ranging from f/4 to f/45.

The Lensbaby 3G medium format lens allows photographers to lock the Lensbaby in a desired bent position simply by pressing a button. Then, using its traditional barrel focus mechanism, photographers can do fine focusing and precisely place the sweet spot of sharp focus before pressing the shutter release. The Original Lensbaby lens and the Lensbaby 2.0 lens require the photographer to manually hold the Lensbaby in a bent position while pressing the shutter release.

The optic in the Medium Format Lensbaby 3G produces the same effect as the optic in the Lensbaby 3G for SLR cameras. However, the optic in each Medium Format Lensbaby 3G is optimized for the specific camera body.

Price and Availability

Lensbaby 3G medium format lenses will be available by the end of March for a price of 389.95 (US MSRP). Optional accessories include the Lensbaby Macro Kit, the Lensbaby 0.6X Wide Angle/Macro Lens, and the Lensbaby 0.6X Wide Angle/1.6X Telephoto Conversion Kit.

In conjunction with the PMA07, Sony has introduced the 6MP Cyber-shot® DSC-G1 digital camera. The G1 model is Sony's first digital camera with the ability to send photos wirelessly to other Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA)-enabled devices, such as another camera or a PC. “This is a step towards realizing a platform for networked photo communication," said Phil Lubell, director of marketing for digital cameras at Sony Electronics. The camera-to-camera wireless capability makes it possible for up to four camera users to send each other photos in real time. With a DLNA-compatible PC, storing and sharing photos becomes simplified through wireless image transfer from the camera to the PC.

This new DSC-G1 also features a distinctive design and a Carl Zeiss® 3x optical zoom lens is wrapped in an elegant metal body. The lens cover slides across, instead of down as with previous models. The 3.5-inch LCD screen has a resolution of 921,000 pixels. That's four times higher than the average compact digital camera and all previous Sony Cyber-shot models. In addition, the new camera has a built-in slide show with music function that makes sharing photos directly on the camera easier and more enjoyable.

DSC-G1 has 2GB of internal memory allowing the camera to become a virtual photo album as it can store up to 7,500 VGA-quality photos or 600 6MP photos. If additional storage is needed, the camera’s capacity can be expanded with an optional Memory Stick Duo â„¢ media card or Memory Stick PRO Duo â„¢ card, now available in capacities up to 8GB.

In addition to storage capacity, the camera incorporates an auto image management system with sophisticated search functions. You can organize photos by events, such as vacations or birthdays, and retrieve them later by keywords or labels. It's also possible to select an image and search for other photos with the same face, same color, or a similar composition.

Price and availability:

The DSC-G1 digital camera will be available in April for a price of $600 (US MSRP). Other accessories including lenses, filters, batteries, travel chargers, sports packs and cases will be available also.

Tamron has just announced the new SP AF70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD (IF) MACRO Zoom lens. It is a lightweight, high-performance and fast tele-zoom lens designed for digital SLR cameras with full-size image sensors. The new SP AF70-200mm Di LD (IF) MACRO is an f/2.8 fast tele-zoom designed for full-size format SLR cameras. It inherits the product concept of the award-winning SP AF28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di standard zoom lens that is highly acclaimed for its compactness and speed, which lets photographers enjoy a high cost to performance uniqueness.

While overall dimensions are confined to the absolute minimum, the new SP AF70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD (IF) MACRO zoom lens is packed with features that allow stress-free photography: a versatile MFD (minimum focusing distance) of just 0.95m (37.4) over the entire zoom range; an excellent maximum macro magnification ratio of 1:3.1 at f=200mm; and an advantageous internal focusing (IF) system. The new tele-zoom lens enables the user to cover a desirable focal length range of 70mm medium telephoto to 200mm telephoto when mounted on full-size format SLR cameras and a focal length range from 109mm to 310mm equivalent* ultra telephoto (7°59′ angle of view) when mounted on a digital SLR camera with an APS-C sized sensor.

*The ratio Tamron uses to convert from full-size to APS-C focal length is 1.55X.

Main Features

• 0.95m (37.4) MFD over the Entire Zoom Range for 1:3.1 Maximum Magnification Ratio
• Soft Out-of-Focus Effect and Sharpness Depiction
• Lightweight, yet fast f/2.8 Maximum Aperture
• Internal Surface Coatings Minimize Ghosting and Flare
• One-touch AF/MF Switchover mechanisms (for Canon and Nikon only)
• Detachable Tripod Grip Ring
• Flower-shaped Lens Hood

Specifications

**Values given are for Nikon AF-D cameras.

Pricing and Availability

Available in Canon, Nikon, and Sony mounts.

Nikon has just announced an updated version of its Nikkor AF-S DX 55-200 mm lens. The new AF-S DX VR 55-200 mm f/4.0-f/5.6G IF-ED has a Silent Wave Motor for fast and quiet focusing, ED glass lens element and most importantly optical Vibration Reduction (VR). The new lens has 3.6x zoom and delivers an equivalent field of view of 82.5-300 mm when used on a DX digital SLR (1.5x FOV crop).

With the Nikon VR advantage, photographers can take pictures at shutter speeds as many as 3 stops slower than they ordinarily could shoot without the image-degrading blur closed by camera shake at slow shutter speeds.

In addition, the Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom Lens features an Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass element that provides for high resolution, high-contrast images while minimizing chromatic aberration, astigmatism and other forms of distortion.

Availability

The Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom Lens will be available in April with a selling price of $249.95 (US MSRP).

.45x Wide Angle Lens for Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm 55-200mm

US $34.95 End Date: Saturday Jul-31-2010 16:46:13 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $34.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

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